[Last updated 6/14/2017]
Next to bigger tires, the next most dramatic change you can make to the look and feel of you Jeep is to upgrade the bumpers. But bumpers provide more than improved looks; they additionally provide improved safety, and aftermarket bumpers bring a lot of valuable off-road functionality, from providing a place to mount a winch and running lights, to D-rings or a place for an off-road jack with easy access.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Jeep bumpers, styles, and options.
Bumper Styles
To start with, there are 3 general categories of bumper styles
Rock Crawler – Designed to protect the front grill of your Jeep as you run into, or slide off of, rocks and other obstacles. They usually have a “stinger” (or as my daughter likes to call it, the tongue) that juts-forward and upwards to prevent a forward end-over-end roll-over as you descend steep inclines.
You can also get a rear stinger that prevents your spare tire from getting caught when you drive off a ledge or large drop.
Pic1 – rock crawler
Tube bumpers – Are the traditional bumper of choice for Jeep owners. They’re usually made from steel and are a tough replacement for the factory (mostly plastic) bumper. They can be purchased with or without the “hoop” that protects the grill, and come with different options for mounting winches, lights and D-rings.
Pic 2 – tube bumper
Modular bumpers – The latest trend in bumpers are modular bumpers. With a modular bumper you can start with a basic bumper and mix and match different components to create the bumper of your choice, such as a winch mounting bracket, D-ring mounts, or a stinger, hoop or brush guard. Additionally, you can add different bumper end-caps to create a short “stubby” bumper of a full width bumper.
When choosing a bumper, the kind of driving you do, and your needs off-road, but here are some factors to consider:
Check List / Questions
- Are you looking for a shorty, mid-width or full-sized bumper? Shorty bumpers allow unobstructed contact with front obstacles, however, they can spray more water as you drive. And, check your local state laws. Some states mandate the width of bumpers.
- Do you want to retail factory fog lights? If your Jeep has them and you want to keep them, look for bumpers that accept the factory lights.
- Do you have (or want to add) a winch? Most aftermarket bumpers are designed to accept a winch. Some modes allow a top mount, and others are designed for an integrated winch mount. Also, check with the bumper manufacture to determine if the bumper is designed to have the winch bolted directly to it or if a separate winch mounting bracket is necessary.
- Are you looking for a model that has a hoop, stinger bar, or can these items be added?
- Do you want to mounting points for off-road lights and/or D-rings (highly recommended)?
- Do you want a rear bumper with an attached tire carrier? While larger off-road tires may fit on the factory spare tire carrier (reduced wheel back spacing pushes the tire out allowing a larger tire to clear), however, the factory tire carrier is not designed to support the weight (up to double) of larger tires.